DDB Worldwide Announces Recipients of the 2011 Bill Bernbach Scholarship

Three Students Awarded $5000 from Diversity Scholarship Fund

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Jan 06, 2012, 01:04 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DDB Worldwide is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011 Bill Bernbach Scholarship. Aki Chang and Daniel Berenson from Miami Ad School, and Maria Meehan from the Art Center of College and Design, will each receive $5000 toward tuition.

The scholarships are made possible through the Bill Bernbach Diversity Scholarship Fund, established in 1998 by DDB Worldwide to provide financial assistance to creatively talented, culturally diverse students seeking an education in copywriting, art direction and design. The three winners were selected by a committee of DDB Chief Creative Officers, Creative Directors, Talent Managers and Creative Service Managers from across the U.S.

"It is both inspiring and encouraging to see the level of talent and diversity pursuing careers in marketing today," said Lisa Bennett, DDB North American Creative Chair. "We owe a great deal to the Universities and Ad Schools that are investing in high caliber portfolio programs. A number of schools have become tremendously competitive and are doing an amazing job preparing these future creatives for the real world."

Participating AAAA schools include the Ad Center at Virginia Commonwealth, the Art Center College of Design, Creative Circus, Miami Ad School, Portfolio Center, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Oregon. The Bill Bernbach Diversity Scholarship Fund has awarded 55 scholarships over the past 12 years.

"We are incredibly pleased to support these talented students' education and encourage their passion for advertising," said Mark O'Brien, President of DDB North America. "It is essential that those of us fortunate enough to work in this exciting business actively participate in the future of our industry and cultivate the next generation of great talent."

In addition to offering a unique opportunity to the recipients, the Bill Bernbach Scholarship has inspired new diversity efforts and research at DDB, such as the establishment of its National Diversity Council in 2008.

About DDB

DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc (www.ddb.com) ranks among the top five consolidated advertising and marketing services global networks, according to Advertising Age. Consistently one of the world's most awarded networks for creative excellence, DDB was Campaign's 2009 Global Network of the Year, the 2010 Spikes Asia Network of the Year, Eurobest Network of the Year, Campaign Asia-Pacific Creative Network of the Year, and captured both the Cyber Grand Prix and Film Craft Grand Prix at the 2010 International Advertising Festival in Cannes. With more than 200 offices in over 90 countries, the DDB Group helps grow the value and influence of leading brands around the world. We believe that creativity is the most powerful force in business, allowing us to develop ideas that people want to play with, participate in and pass along. We call this Social Creativity. DDB Worldwide is part of Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC).

SOURCE DDB Worldwide